Friday, January 30, 2015

The very slow realization

Funny how friendships can end. Sometimes, it's a big blow up with yelling and tears and lots of anger. But, sometimes, it can be just one thing that makes you say "you know, I'm done."

I recently had a friendship end this way. I'm sure we'll still be cordial to each other. We'll be polite. Because that's what you do in a small town.

I'd made a comment that was intended to be funny. I miss judged my audience and it wasn't funny. The recipient's reaction wasn't completely unexpected, although one might say that perhaps a tad overblown. But more than that, it made me realize that our friendship has been more about me walking on eggshells with them, and their response to my insensitive remark brought home that I'm tired of walking on eggshells for them.

Kinda a harsh realization, right? Frankly, I'm thinking of it all more in terms of "you know, they've been pretty clear that they tolerate me because of proximity, but they'd never go out of their way for me . . . and I've gone out of my way for them plenty. It's time to stop now."

More than anything, I'm a little embarrassed I was so slow on the up take. Monkeys aren't real good at the nuances of human relationships, sometimes. sigh.